NSCSW postgraduate seminar: Bowen family systems theory

Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

An intensive course about Bowen family systems theory, for members of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

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<blockquote>"If I can discover and correct the part I play, all others will automatically correct their parts." - Murray Bowen</blockquote> Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) will be offering a unique opportunity for our members' professional development: a 9-session seminar in Bowen family systems theory.Please note that this seminar has limited space. <h3>Time commitment</h3><ul><li>This program runs from February 4 to April 1, 2026, with April 8 as a back-up date.</li></ul><ul><li>Participants will meet every Wednesday from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. Atlantic time</li></ul><ul><li>The time required for this seminar is approximately 5 hours per week (2.5hrs in small group sessions, 2.5hrs for preparation and reading assignments)</li></ul> <h3>Program content, participation &amp; process</h3>This program offers a unique opportunity for social workers, whether they be in public or private practice, doing clinical or community work, serving as leaders in religious or secular organizations, owners of family businesses or working as supervisors or mentors.<ul><li>We will study and explore Bowen theory in a secure, small group setting. Nine interactive sessions will focus on an understanding of the theoretical framework of Bowen family systems theory while additionally investigating its application to the family, the workplace and the community.</li></ul><ul><li>Along with rich and thought-provoking discussions, participants can be prepared to engage in discussion on readings from the Bowen family systems theory resources.</li></ul><ul><li>This program combines theoretical learning with exploration of self and one’s own family. Each participant will prepare and present a diagram of their own family during the seminar. Typically, this stimulates considerable self-reflection.</li></ul><ul><li>Between sessions, participants are encouraged to define themselves more clearly in their work and family-of-origin systems. It is this effort that results in the deepest level of learning, integration and change.</li></ul><ul><li>The personal nature of the process makes it particularly important that we treat each other with consideration and respect and that our discussions be kept strictly confidential, using our Code of Ethics as a guide.</li></ul><ul><li>Registration indicates your acceptance of the program's processes and principles.</li></ul> <h3>Core concepts of Bowen family systems theory</h3><ul><li>leadership</li></ul><ul><li>emotion/fusion/anxiety</li></ul><ul><li>togetherness and individuation forces</li></ul><ul><li>differentiation of self</li></ul><ul><li>emotional triangles</li></ul><ul><li>nuclear family emotional process</li></ul><ul><li>sibling position</li></ul><ul><li>family projection process</li></ul><ul><li>emotional cut-off</li></ul><ul><li>societal emotional process</li></ul><ul><li>multigenerational transmission process</li></ul> <h3>Program features</h3><ul><li>Scheduling: Nine sessions held weekly, 2.5 hours each.</li></ul><ul><li>Location: Online via Zoom</li></ul><ul><li>Enrolment: The program will be limited to a maximum of 12 participants, allowing participants to lead a discussion of assigned reading and to present information on their own families during the course of the program.</li></ul><ul><li>Readings: Reading assignments will be selected from Bowen family systems theory texts and peer-reviewed literature. The College will provide a textbook and other reading resources to each of the 12 participants.</li></ul><ul><li>Professional development tracking: For members of NSCSW, the 22.5 session hours of this program are eligible to be tracked as formal professional development. Preparing for sessions by completing the assigned readings is an informal learning activity which can be tracked separately.</li></ul> <h3>Foundations</h3>Related sections of the <a href="https://nscsw.org/standards" title="https://nscsw.org/standards" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NSCSW Code of Ethics &amp; Standards of Practice (2025)</a><h4>Value 4: Valuing Human Relationships</h4><ul><li>Guiding Principle 4.2: Social workers continually develop self-awareness and practise self-reflection to guide their practice and personal well-being.</li></ul><h4>Value 7: Providing Culturally Responsive Competent Professional Services</h4><ul><li>Guiding Principle 7.1: Social workers are committed to the ongoing development of their professional abilities and knowledge, aiming to ensure the delivery of culturally responsive professional services.</li></ul><ul><li>Guiding Principle 7.2: Social workers practise within their level of competence and seek appropriate guidance when services required are beyond their competence.</li></ul> <h3>Program facilitators</h3><h4>Anne Pirie</h4>Anne Pirie, MSW, is a registered member of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, living in Sackville, NB. Anne has worked in various clinical settings. Bowen family systems theory informs her understanding of families. Anne is actively retired; now engaged in a variety of non-profit organizations.<h4>Jim Morton</h4>Jim Morton, MSW, is a retired associate member of NSCSW with more than four decades of leadership, clinical and consulting experience in both the public and private sectors. Jim’s current interests centre on mental health, family systems theory, politics, and social change. He lives in Kentville, Nova Scotia. <h3>Eligibility</h3>Must be a current member of NSCSW to attend; all active, associate, retired, and student members are welcome. There is no other prerequisite.Registration during each seminar will be limited to 12 participants, and the registration fee will include the seminar series and resource materials.<h4>The facilitators welcome interest in this program from practitioners who:</h4><ul><li>are engaged in clinical settings such as mental health, addictions, hospitals and private practice;</li></ul><ul><li>have roles within family-owned businesses;</li></ul><ul><li>own or run business ventures;</li></ul><ul><li>provide leadership to work or religious organizations;</li></ul><ul><li>deliver child protection services;</li></ul><ul><li>consult and deliver services in educational settings; or</li></ul><ul><li>are interested in enhancing their own capacity to be effective observers of systems processes.</li></ul>You'll need a device that can use <a href="https://zoom.us/test" title="https://zoom.us/test" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Zoom</a>, and a reasonably reliable internet connection. Participants will also need to provide a mailing address where they wish to receive the course materials. <h3>Cancellation policy</h3>Please note that the Eventbrite processing fee is not refunded by the ticketing platform. Requests to cancel registration and refund the base ticket fee ($50) will be considered on a case-by-case basis until 30 days before the seminar begins, or until course materials have been mailed to you.Participants may transfer their registration and course materials to another NSCSW member at any time before the first seminar session begins. There are no additional charges for a registration transfer.

<h3>Background</h3>Approximately 60 years ago Murray Bowen, M.D., a pioneer in family research, created a new paradigm that has significantly influenced our thinking about human behaviour. Since that time, ongoing investigation, research and communication with the natural sciences have continued throughout the world, offering a systemic, contextual alternative the cause-and-effect models now dominant in health care, organization and leadership development.Bowen family systems theory understands the extended, multigenerational family to be an organism, an emotional system that has an enormous impact on the behaviour of each individual family member. The theory also proposes that an individual’s capacity to observe the emotional system and its patterns, and to clearly define their place within it, will affect their own functioning within the family and also influence the behaviour of other family members.It is now widely recognized that how well any organization functions – whether it be a workplace, a family or a community, regardless of culture – depends on the degree to which its employees/members/citizens can clearly define themselves in relation to others within the organization. Bowen theory’s recognition of our interconnectedness and its description of the emotional system has important implications, not only for families and their members, but also for groups of all sizes, and for human health.Social workers know that people can only be understood in relation to their social and physical environments, yet they often practice in settings where the focus is on individuals and cause-and-effect thinking. Bowen theory provides one route to supporting the development of safer social work practice – both for social workers and for those who use our services.

<h3>What people have said about our programs</h3><blockquote>“I would definitely recommend this course because it is different from any other professional development I’ve undertaken and makes one think outside the box.”</blockquote><blockquote>“ I think this program has benefits clinically but also just in organizational development.”</blockquote><blockquote>“I have a deeper understanding of family systems and how it has shaped my life. I think as a social worker, this has helped me see and understand how leadership in organizations matters as well.”</blockquote><blockquote>“… a theory that is applicable to work with every client we see.”</blockquote><blockquote>“I loved it. I think about this framework all the time.”</blockquote><blockquote>“It has been quite literally a life altering experience!”</blockquote><blockquote>“A fine example of group work.”</blockquote><blockquote>“Strong, dynamic and sensitive leadership.”</blockquote><blockquote>“You’ve challenged my potential in ways I couldn’t imagine.”</blockquote><blockquote>“This really hits home!”</blockquote><blockquote>“Obviously experienced and knowledgeable.”</blockquote><blockquote>“Helpful, instructive, enriching.”</blockquote>

<h3>Questions?</h3>If you have questions, please contact the College's Professional Development Consultant, Tyler Colbourne, at tyler.colbourne@nscsw.org.

Curious about what Bowen theory is, and how it might be relevant to your practice? This recording is from a 2023 webinar offered by NSCSW and the course facilitators, as a taster for a previous version of this seminar. Please note that some aspects of the seminar design have been changed since then, in response to participant feedback.

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